Posted on 10/13/2018 7:44:57 PM PDT by Olog-hai
The National Park Service is exploring whether to require protest organizers to pay for the cost of providing law enforcement and other support services for demonstrations held in the nation’s capital.
The proposed rule also could shrink a significant portion of the sidewalk outside the White House that is accessible to pedestrians, leaving a five-foot wide sliver. The public has until the close of Monday to comment on the proposal.
More than 7,600 comments have been submitted so far, the vast majority in opposition, including many who consider it an effort by the Trump administration to deter some of the major protests that have marked his presidency. “Requiring these burdensome fees will dissuade Americans from demonstrating,” wrote Gayle Copeland of San Antonio, Texas. “This new rule is not reflective of American values or history to peacefully protest.”
The National Park Service issues about 750 permits a year for demonstrations within the National Mall and at nearby parks. The agency said its proposed rule is designed to provide greater clarity about how and where demonstration can occur in a manner that protects historically important public land.
There have been several large demonstrations on or near the National Mall since President Donald Trump assumed office. The Women’s March in January 2017 brought protesters from throughout the country to Washington, and that has been followed by protests of the president’s actions on climate change and guns, to name a few. …
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Bump
Sounds unconstitutional to me, having to pay to exercise your First Amendment right.
Charge the$e profe$$ional prote$ter$ to the $ky.
Why should we taxpayers have to pay through the nose for these mobs' R & R & R (Rioting, Revolution and Recreation) ? ? ?
Leni
I think there’re Supreme Court cases saying that’s not constitutional. NPS should go read them.
The First Amendment stipulates peaceable assembly, which would not require police presence. Riotous behavior is not covered by the First Amendment.
Well, there’s no First Amendment right to riot. To peaceably assemble, that’s a right, but there’s nothing in the First Amendment either that says any place can be a place of such assembly.
Not it they are paid anarchists! Rioters paid to disrupt and destroy have no freedoms of speech.
So we should pay for the lefists to trash the mall because they call it free speech? Where does it say Free speech means no responsibility to clean up? A protest is more than free speech, they can stand in the park and talk for free.
Have ‘em post a damage & cleanup bond of a substantial amount
Could be a very dangerous precedent.
Plus, if the fact people might show up to protest meant that WE had to pay,.. you’ve just handed the enemy a big old club to shut down legitimate speech.
If the Obama administration had proposed this, we’d be seeing red with anger, finding all sorts of nefarious implications.
Nope.
The solution is beating the crap out of rioters prior to arrest and making them work off a hefty fine doing public service as part of their penalty once convicted in a fair trial.
there is no right to disrupt. No matter who, no matter where, no matter when or for what reason, no one has the right to interfere with another group’s lawfully permitted peaceful gathering. Counterprotesters should be firehosed, tased and given 6 months hard labor.
Should also pay for cleanup. Democrats always trash the place.
I hate spell check. I typed DemonRats not Democrats.
If they show up, protest, and then leave without causing damage or making a mess, then they shouldn’t have to pay.
If they show up, protest, riot, destroy businesses, leave trash everywhere, and just plain look disgusting, then they should have to pay.
In other words, conservatives don’t have to pay to protest, Democrats do. Seems reasonable.
Does this mean that up to now there has been no fee paid to the park service for a permit to hold a large demonstration?
-——Have ‘em post a damage & cleanup bond of a substantial amount-——
Yup....Soro can afford it....
Goes for conservatives protests as well except we would get the bond money back...
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